West drivers facing jump in fuel prices by end of month

Drivers in the West could be paying up to 130p a litre for fuel by the beginning of next year, an industry body has warned.

The Retail Motor Industry Independent Petrol Retailers Association (RMI Petrol) predicted prices could soar by 3 per cent ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend and 8 per cent by the end of 2010.

RMI Petrol, which represents around two-thirds of Britain's 9,000 petrol forecourt sites, said the average petrol price nationally could rise as high as 125.9p per litre in the new year, smashing the current record high of 121.61p.

But that could rocket higher in the West Country, where many drivers are already paying in excess of 125p per litre for unleaded and diesel.

"It will further increase pressure on independent retailers who are fighting for survival, especially in rural areas, due to the double hit of falling volumes and tighter margins.

"This crude oil increase will feed through the supply chain and could result in prices going up by as much as 4p a litre in the next three weeks.

"We also need to remember that the coalition government did not cancel Labour's Budget commitment to raising fuel duty by 1p a litre from October 1 and a further 0.76p from January 1, with both having VAT added.

"Then we have the coalition's Emergency Budget proposal to increase VAT to 20 percent from January 4, so the outlook remains extremely difficult for motorists and retailers alike."

The Petrolprices.co.uk website currently shows the average prices in the Taunton area at 117.8p for unleaded and 119.3p for diesel. However, the highest prices are 125.9p and 126.9p respectively.

In Dorchester, the averages are 118.3p and 119.8p, Bristol 115.6p and 118.2p, Swindon 115.7p and 119.3p and Cheltenham 117.6p and 119.3p.

John Franklin, from the RAC, said: "The future looks bleak for motorists, with rising oil prices and further tax hikes.

"The coalition Government have promised to take a look at options to control the price of petrol. However, the planned fuel duty and VAT rise are likely to add a further 5p a litre.

"If the Government really want to help motorists, they should abandon these planned increases."

Comments

Many in Bath have little or no public transport options. Until that's addressed, getting people to use it will remain a challenge.
Last sunday, I travelled from a zone2 area in London to a surrey suburb, breaking journey in between. The outward trip involved the (air-conditioned) overground costing 1.30 and taking 25 mins, a tram costing 1.20 taking 20 mins and a bus costing 1.20 taking 7 mins. The distance was around 20k.
I also made a shorter trip of about 11k in surrey involving 2 buses which took 15 mins. I was charged 1.20 on one and 20p on the other, as my oyster card cap had been reached at 5.10. One bus was run by Metrobus, the other by Go-Ahead London.
The return journey was by tram and overground. Both were free. I had to wait 5 mins for the tram and slightly less than that for the overground. There was a 30 second wait for a bus on the outward trip.
I have no idea how this compares with a car. I guess a trip of about 51k taking approx 1 hr 40 mins is a lot quicker. My trip to London from Bristol by national express coach cost 1.00 and took 2 hrs 25 mins. The return to Bath by FGW train cost 9.50 and took 1 hr 30 mins. These tickets were booked online about 10 days before travel.
This scale of integration is probably not necessary for somewhere like Bath, but you could start with simple basics. Flat fares of 1.00 or 2.00. Coin boxes with no change given. Cheaper tickets you can buy at shops before you travel. Routes that interconnect. No large gaps in timetables during peak hours. It will all help.

Many in Bath have little or no public transport options. Until that's addressed, getting people to use it will remain a challenge.
Last sunday, I travelled from a zone2 area in London to a surrey suburb, breaking journey in between. The outward trip involved the (air-conditioned) overground costing 1.30 and taking 25 mins, a tram costing 1.20 taking 20 mins and a bus costing 1.20 taking 7 mins. The distance was around 20k.
I also made a shorter trip of about 11k in surrey involving 2 buses which took 15 mins. I was charged 1.20 on one and 20p on the other, as my oyster card cap had been reached at 5.10. One bus was run by Metrobus, the other by Go-Ahead London.
The return journey was by tram and overground. Both were free. I had to wait 5 mins for the tram and slightly less than that for the overground. There was a 30 second wait for a bus on the outward trip.
I have no idea how this compares with a car. I guess a trip of about 51k taking approx 1 hr 40 mins is a lot quicker. My trip to London from Bristol by national express coach cost 1.00 and took 2 hrs 25 mins. The return to Bath by FGW train cost 9.50 and took 1 hr 30 mins. These tickets were booked online about 10 days before travel.
This scale of integration is probably not necessary for somewhere like Bath, but you could start with simple basics. Flat fares of 1.00 or 2.00. Coin boxes with no change given. Cheaper tickets you can buy at shops before you travel. Routes that interconnect. No large gaps in timetables during peak hours. It will all help.

Many of the companies I worked at in the past encouraged the use of public transport. After Pete's comment, on stimulating the economy, I now think route restrictions and the inability of operators to keep to timetables are probably main reasons none of them are trading anymore.
As for improved mobility, making the choice to travel through city streets using larger buses and their power to weight ratios, compared to faster and cheaper cars, has always been one of the first considerations in seeking transport to and from the jobs I've done. Surely Pete is right and my lack of career success can't be down to the restrictions this has placed on ability to relocate, punctually attend important meetings, or be flexible in making any travel arrangements?
So maybe Pete can help me better understand how "investment in public transport priority measures" will enable improvement to the local economy, without even solving the problem of congestion. In addition, some stats that aren't five or more years old might also tell us something actually useful.
Or is it that none of us will really ever be happy until we've taken his lead and become workers in the bus building and promotion industry, just like he is?
Some alternative!

Good point, Lucy. People forget that the overall costs of running a car has been calculated by the RAC as being 18% less in real terms than it was more than 20 years ago. If the costs of running a car was truly prohibitive then we'd see the evidence in reduced traffic volume. I, for one, find it perfectly viable to saddle myself with a 50 mile daily commute so it can't be that bad.
The extortionate fares and the unreliability of local public transport has been well covered before.

Pete,
You've neglected to mention that public transport is more often than not more expensive than using a car...
Rightly or wrongly, money in their pocket is probably the first place most people look....

Alternatively, increasing public transport use will stimulate the economy as it will enable people to escape from congestion. Improved mobility will enable more people to access jobs and services than can currently do so on near gridlocked streets. Bath's infamous congestion already deters many people from accessing the city centre, and thus acts as a cap on economic activity. Investment in public transport priority measures, whilst not solving congestion, will enable the local economy to increase over and above what can be achieved at current levels of car dependency.
Also, increased use of public transport will create jobs in the bus building industry - still a domestic concern - and its supply chain. A recent report claims that investment in sustainable transport creates more jobs than road investment.
Finally, the UK bus industry does invest in additional vehicles when passenger numbers are rising. In fact this has been proven in Bath, where on the back of rising bus use First introduced 100 new buses in 2005.
Sources:
humantransit.org/2010/07/what-does-transit-do-about-traffic-congestion-1.html
bettertransport.org.uk/media/july-19-employment-in-transport
firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/bristol/about/?show=2

Looking at wider issues, if we all increased Public transport usage, it would seriously dent the Countrys finances. Dave & Gideon would have to find a way to plug the gap from tax on petrol, the increased revenues will benefit the Private Companies providing transport, and B&NES would have another black hole to fill with less parking revenues. And the Companies would raise fares to reduce demand, as that is better for profits than adding extra busses or train carriages.
For all the Greenwash, Governments do not want us to stop using our cars.

Good point, Tim. The 'real' cost of motoring has fallen dramatically in our lifetimes and we now largely consider that it's some kind of god-given right to drive where, when and indeed as fast as we want. It's unsustainable and we're going to have to get used to justifying our trips. Of course we don't like it but it's a fact.

This will affect me, as I have a long commute, but there's a way to save fuel: slow down!
As a society, we're as addicted as junkies to cheap oil. Now it's getting expensive but we're finding it hard to go cold turkey.